A subtle enhancement to this site

In the Latin underneath the title banner at the top of this page I’ve embedded (and then modified) several links. They’re time-savers:

The phrase “In principio erat Verbum et Verbum erat apud Deum et Deus erat Verbum” (“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”) links to posts here on Justification, the work of Christ by which He makes righteous all men.

The phrase “Verbum Domini Manet in aeternum” (“The Word of the Lord abides forever”) links to posts here on the trustworthiness of Scripture.

Perhaps you’ll find these links (and the content to which they lead) useful.

*No, I am indicating no moral equivalence between Roman Catholicism and the devil, Calvinism, and Muhammad. The phrase “Verbum diaboli Manet in Episcopis” was a clever retort by a Reformation-era domestic servant to a bishop who was mocking the phrase stitched on the former’s shirt: “Verbum Domini Manet in aeternum.” Since Calvin and Muhammad’s heresies are clearly from hell, adding their names to that lying bishop’s seemed clever.

The Church of Rome’s positions on Justification and Authority are contrary to the clear words of Scripture**. I pray that the Roman church will make the Word of God its sole Source of Authority; from that will flow naturally the pure Gospel, which is this: Sinful Man is saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and not by any effort, will, decision, attitude, or act on our part.

**Ironically, those in Protestantism*** who would condemn Roman Catholics as heretics in need of salvation are guilty usually of the same error, they just dress up in more “Bible-based”-sounding language. We don’t “choose God,” He chooses us. We don’t “give our hearts to Jesus,” He creates faith in us through His Word and Sacraments. We don’t “make a decision for Christ,” He took on human flesh, endured our wretchedness, obeyed the Law in our stead, died for our sins, and resurrected in order to bring eternal life to us all.

***One branch of Protestantism (and its progeny) has had a death-grip on Luther’s coattails since the 16th century and hasn’t let go yet. (You know who you are.) You can’t call yourself a Reformation church if you deny its Spirit — making “Reason” equal to Scripture in authority is neither “reasonable” nor Scriptural. The essential point of the Reformation was Christ crucified, died, and risen from the dead for us.